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Sightseeing in Byblos-Jbeil - what to see. Complete travel guide

Byblos-Jbeil or simply Byblos is the largest city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate. It is located forty kilometers from the country’s capital. This is an interesting place that attracts tourists by its unusual atmosphere. When you enter Byblos, it feels like you just made time travel – the city is very old and still has many ancient ruins. Besides this, Byblos is situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, so local beaches are perfectly suitable for swimming and sunbathing. When the weather is sunny and the wind is not strong, tourists can admire a truly spectacular view of the seaside. It is easy to spend hours enjoying the scene.

According to local beliefs, El, the Sun God, was the founder of the city. He surrounded the settlement with a wall. First mentions of Byblos date back to 4,000 BC. When ancient Greece and the Roman Empire were not founded yet, Byblos-Jbeil was one of the most powerful cities in the world, an independent place with its own king, culture, and developing commerce. The first alphabet and then writing initially appeared in this part of the world. In 3,000 BC, Byblos started trading with ancient Egypt.

However, a tragic event happened at the end of that period. A large fire destroyed a big part of the city. This caused a decline in Byblos, but that sad period didn’t last long. Byblos-Jbeil started rebuilding quickly and soon became the largest Phoenician center of trade for ships. This helped to establish new business partnerships, and Byblos was trading with merchants from up to the Aegean Sea. The city changed its rulers several times during its history. First Assyrians were the major force in the region. Later, Babylon replaced them, followed by Alexander the Great and tyrant Cyniras. The city survived despite all troubles and has remained until our time. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

If you plan to spend your vacation sunbathing on the soft and warm sand, enjoying the hot sun, if you want to forget about all troubles and big-city stress, then it is hard to think of a better place than Babylon-Jbeil. This region has numerous beaches situated along the Mediterranean Sea’s coast. Tourists are always welcome to book a room in one of the local coastal hotels. That being said, tourists need to stay alert when they plan to sunbathe – local sand is soft but there can be sharp stones hidden in it. Numerous bars and restaurants are always glad to greet new guests, offering local specialties and delicious national cuisine served in open-air terraces.

The city’s bay is one of the most romantic places that tourists can attend during their stay in Byblos-Jbeil. Two guardian towers protect the bay. This is where vacationers can make an unforgettable sea ride that allows looking at the city from a completely new angle. Do you like scuba diving? You can always enjoy this activity because local diving centers offer diving gear and an opportunity to see the underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea with your own eyes. We recommend visiting one of the local beaches closer to the evening, at the sunset. The view is simply unforgettable.

If you are lucky to visit Byblos-Jbeil at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn, you will be able to participate in the Byblos Festival, a renowned international event. Even the president of Lebanon pays his attention to the festival and never forgets to visit this event under the patronage of UNESCO. This is the period of mass celebrations at the Mediterranean Sea coast, and the city hosts various exhibitions and shows. Clowns entertain kids, and adults visit beautiful fashion shows. Tourists can also join local fishermen and watch them catching fish skillfully or even participate in this process.

When you want to get acquainted with the city, don’t forget to explore the fortress built by Crusaders. To build such a grandiose fortification, Crusaders mined limestone in local quarries. Besides that, they used stones from the Phoenician and Roman ruins. In 1190, when Saladin conquered the city, this fortress was destroyed completely. However, Crusaders managed to restore the building completely. It remained an active military garrison until the 20th century. Nowadays, tourists can explore the fortress and enjoy the panoramic view of the surroundings from its top.

To get to Byblos-Jbeil, tourists first need to fly to Beirut – most capitals have direct flights to this city. In Beirut Airport, comfortable buses take tourists to the central part of Byblos-Jbeil. Travelers can always get a taxi to this city, but it will be significantly more expensive. The journey time from the airport to Byblos-Jbeil is approximately half an hour.

This guide to iconic landmarks and sights of Byblos-Jbeil is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Byblos-Jbeil and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all castles

Survived castles around Byblos-Jbeil
♥ Castle 'Byblos Castle' , 0.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Smar Jbeil' , 11.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Mseilha Fort' , 17.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles' , 38.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Moussa Castle' , 47.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all parks

National and city parks around Byblos-Jbeil
♥ National Park 'Mashgara' , 28 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Barouk Cedar Forest' , 46.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Qaraoun Lake' , 62 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Hazor' , 123.2 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Montfort' , 127.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all art museums

Art galleries in Byblos-Jbeil and around
♥ Art museum 'Sursock Museum' Beirut, 28.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Sights around Byblos-Jbeil from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Baatara Falls

From the series “Most Fanciful Waterfalls of the Planet”

Check on the map: Baatara Falls on map

Distance from Byblos-Jbeil center - 20.9 km.

The fact that the waterfall was undetected for so long is no wonder. The territory where it is situated is covered with lush vegetation, so it is extremely difficult to find an entrance to the deep cave with the waterfall. The wonderful sight was discovered by a famous researcher Henri Coiffait. Just a few years ago, tourists were able to walk across stone bridges of the cave and see water streams in the near vicinity. After research, the bridges were found to be too brittle, so today it is forbidden to enter them. … Read further

Jeita Grotto

From the series “Fantastic and Colorful Caves Inside the Earth”

Check on the map: Jeita Grotto on map

Distance from Byblos-Jbeil center - 20 km.

The cave is pretty well explored. In one of the grottoes scientists have found the ruins of an old foundry workshop. For tourists, the cave has been open since 1995. Some of the grottoes were completed with the impressive illumination system and therefore look even more magical. An excursion to the Jeita Caves becomes an exciting adventure. To get to the upper level of the caves tourists can use a cable car. … Read further

Sightseeing in Lebanon: things to see

This is a small Mediterranean country that is rich in historic places of interest. Lebanon charms its guests with elegant culture and unforgettable exotic nature. Several important landmarks are located in the capital of the city, Beirut. Grand Mosque is the oldest building in Lebanon. It was built yet during the Byzantine Empire times and originally looked like a small church. The church was built by Crusaders, and in the end of the 13th century it was transformed into a mosque. The House of Martin, which is located in the central part of the city, is an important sight of the war period. The house was severely damaged during the war, same as most buildings in the area. One can see many damaged houses and memorials in this part of Beirut. … Open

Sightseeing in Byblos-Jbeil - what to see. Complete travel guide

City tours, excursions and tickets in Byblos-Jbeil and surroundings

Sights around Byblos-Jbeil from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Baatara Falls

Jeita Grotto

Sightseeing in Lebanon: things to see

Search touristic sites on the map of Byblos-Jbeil

Sightseeing in regions nearby Byblos-Jbeil